Today at noon, a protest was held in response to College’s ongoing investments into the fossil fuel industry in Front Square.
The protest was organised by two student organisations, Fossil Free Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the Systemic Environmental Correct (SEC) Initiative.
Graduate Students’ Union (GSU)’s Environment Officer Jamie Rohu encouraged students to attend on Twitter.
The protest was promoted on Facebook in which a total of 14 users registered interest.
In 2016, College pledged to divest from all companies whose primary business is the extraction of fossil fuels.
However, College currently has at least €8 million shares invested in over 85 businesses affiliated to the fossil fuel industry.
According to the co-founder of the SEC Initiative, Jeffrey Sardina, “By investing in this industry, [College] are actively placing personal profit over the lives, health, and futures of our and all future generations. To be specific, they are investing in a system of relentless climate-destruction’’.
‘‘This is grossly unacceptable, especially by an institution that claims to care about creating a better future for our planet’’: He continued.
In reference to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s most recent report, Sardinia encouraged students to ‘‘gather and protest, for this is the only time we have left.’’
The IPCC was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988. Findings from its most recent report state that climate change has become more rapid and widespread more than ever.
The protest follows this week’s prior direct action on campus, which saw hundreds gather in Front Square to protest College’s handling of reopening.
